The state-of-the-art USW Sport Park, opening early next year, will have the first full-size indoor 3G football pitch in Wales.

Property, construction and infrastructure consultancy Pick Everard, which has an office in Cardiff, is delivering project and cost management services on the scheme that is on site at the moment.

Mike Petersen, director at Pick Everard said: “This new facility will provide the very best in modern sporting facilities for the University – and will include the very first full-size indoor 3G football pitch in Wales.

“We have a great deal of experience of working within the higher education sector and are very pleased to be working with the University of South Wales on what is an important project.”

An internal full size 3G playing surface will be a key feature of the new facility, meeting the FIFA standards for football and World Rugby standards. The Sport Park will also house a specialist centre for strength and conditioning, with 12 lifting platforms, changing rooms, teaching rooms, and offices. In total, there will be an extra 9,500 sq ft of space.

The introduction of world-class facilities at our USW Sport Park will not only benefit students on our sport courses and our students that represent the university in a variety of sports, but also build on some of the sector-leading research in to physiology, strength and condition, and sports psychology, to name just a few of our strengths – Dr Martin Steggall, Dean of the Faculty of Life Sciences and Education

Dr Martin Steggall, Dean of the Faculty of Life Sciences and Education, said: “The introduction of world-class facilities at our USW Sport Park will not only benefit students on our sport courses and our students that represent the university in a variety of sports, but also build on some of the sector-leading research in to physiology, strength and condition, and sports psychology, to name just a few of our strengths.

“The facility is already well used by the local community and professional teams, and this is something that we hope to expand on in the future.

“We are not only investing in pitches, but also in strength and conditioning and analysis facilities that will support our students in developing all aspects of their sporting excellence.”

Mark Robinson, Scape Group chief executive, said: “This project is a fantastic example of intelligent, highly efficient design, and will create a first-rate research facility for University of South Wales students and staff.

“By using our framework, the scheme will utilise a local supply chain network and create training opportunities for local people.”